Screen Clone Problem

I have a client with a Sony VAIO VGN-TZ12 series notebook.

When an external monitor is connected and switched on the primary display automatically moves to the external monitor and the VAIO monitor become an extension of the desktop rather than a clone. The external monitor also becomes the primary display if I attach it after the VAIO has loaded into Windows (XP).

When an external projector is attached the problem is similar but I have to go to the display properties and play with the settings to get the SVGA signal to the projector. I can only achieve the position where the display via the projector is an extension of the VAIO monitor.

It is not possible to achieve a clone image on both the VAIO and the external monitor/projector. This setting is obviously best when one is using a projector so one can work from the VAIO screen and the audience watches the projected image).

The display property settings on the primary monitor remains stubbornly greyed-out regardless of the settings made on the secondary monitor.

The VAIO keyboard hot-key FN+Function key (F6 I think) that should allow me to switch between monitors or have both monitors active does not work but other FN hotkeys (volume, PgUp/Dn etc do work). The screen brightness FN hotkey does not appear to work.

Other info that may have a bearing.

The PC was supplied with Vista Business (Premium I think) but the user was frustrated with the unfamiliar Vista layout. He persisted but then Vista went totally bad and all networking was lost. Web-based opinion was that only a reinstall would resolve this network issue. The user decided to have XP (Home) put on the PC. I did this using drivers on the Sony website except where the provided drivers would not work (LAN and WLAN in particular).

The graphics card drivers were also a problem but I tracked down the vendor using the Device Instance and identified the exact drivers from the Intel website and used those (with success from what I can see).

In device manager there appear to be 5 Plug and Play monitors installed. One device (Bluetooth is disabled) and the TPM Security Suite for the solid state hard disk is disabled.

Does anybody have any experience with this issue and be able to provide a solution or any suggestions where I would start .

 

For correct operation of the function keys ALL Sony machines require some additional software beyond just the device drivers. There are some libraries as well, and the correct sequence for installing these items can be important. I don't know the specifics of the TZ model, but if you look around here (the search box at the top of each screen is your friend) you should be able to find a thread with the specifics of downgrading the machine to XP. Be aware though that Sony has not supplied the drivers and libraries for all models to allow them to downgrade. Your best solution may be to have the client go back to Vista. (Vista doesn't "go bad", it needs a little coaxing by someone mucking about trying to "fix" things.)

Gary

 

Thanks Gary

Sony provided XP drivers for the TZ12 and that is what I used except, as I say, on the LAN, WAN and graphics card drivers where Sony drivers would not install.

After concluding the main driver installs and basically a clean device manager (with two disabled devices as previously advised) I found that there was no 'hotkey' functionality (i.e. using the Fn + alternative Fn enabled keys).

I came across a website with notes on how to install the hotkey drivers and that said "install the hotkey drivers first, then the 'Sony Shared Library' and finally the 'Sony Utils'". I cound not find the 'Sony Utils' but found that most of the 'hotkey' functionality was present once I had loaded the hotkey drivers and 'Sony Shared Library'. Could the fact that the 'Sony Utils' was not installed be causing the problem and if so where do I find the 'Sony Utils' and are they model specific?

 

The correct order is the Sony Shared Library, the Sony utils then the drivers. Yes the fact that you don't have the Sony Utils could very well be the problem. To find them you will need to go to the Sony support website and yes they are model specific as well as OS specific. So if Sony has not provided them for XP you are out of luck, hence my suggestion that you may need to have the client go back to Vista.

Again though even if you find the Sony Utils and load it it may not work because of the sequence in which things were installed. On some models the order is CRUCIAL, on others anecdotal evidence is to the contrary.

Gary

 

Gary

Once again thanks.

I assume if I remove what I can using the Add/remove programs then install the three components in your suggested order that this will put the question beyond doubt (i.e. that the lack of the Sony Utils could be the issue)?

The owner of the VAIO is not willing to return to Vista because (in his words not mine) it is "a s**t operating system". I tried to advise him against buying Sony in the first place. My advice was in favour of better and far cheaper products available from Samsung (where full and working XP drivers are available for their products).

If XP cannot be made to work then expect to see a VAIO VGN-TZ12 on eBay!

 

I can't say with any certainty if it will or not. I always make sure to do them in the right order when installing the OS. Sony publishes a list of items needed and the order that they should be installed in. I have never tried to fix things after the fact. The libraries are actually to be installed PRIOR to the drivers.

Gary